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MusingsDateline: 9th November, 2003Regional Theatre My correspondent was, of course, correct: not only was it produced at the Traverse but it is written by one of Scotland's leading playwrights, Rona Munro. Of course, the Evening Standard is London's evening paper and its Awards are for theatre in London, but my correspondent is not a little annoyed at how persistently regional theatre is ignored by the London-centric media. And he is right. London is the capital of Britain and even may be the capital of British theatre, but it is not the only city to produce good theatre. On Thursday I went to see Keepers of the Flame, a new play co-produced by the RSC and a small Newcastle company, Live Theatre. It starred some national luminaries - Alan Howard and David Rintoul - but the majority of the cast were Live regulars and it was directed by Live's artistic director, Max Roberts. The writer, Sean O'Brien, has worked with Live on a number of occasions. This is a play which deserves a much wider audience but it has been ignored by the national press, even the cachet of the RSC name and Michael Boyd's endorsement did not tempt them to the frozen north east (actually, it was unseasonably warm, but that's by the by). Had it been in London, it would have been a different story. It would, indeed, have been a major story. Public Money for the West End? Now that worries me. It makes me think that Ms Morris may be suggesting that ACE should be thinking of putting money into the refurbishment of West End theatres. And where does ACE get its money? From Ms Morris and the DCMS, of course. But if the DCMS has no more money but feels that ACE should help, where does ACE find the money? By a redistribution of existing funds, of course. Is Ms Morris hinting that they should cut the funding of the RSC, which is already in parlous financial state? Or of the National, which has already been promised more? Or of the other subsidised theatres in London? Or perhaps of regional theatre? A little cut here. A little cut there. Take a bit from each of the regional offices, perhaps? Well, they wouldn't have to face them every day, would they? It's not as if they're on the doorstep. What does it matter if the north east or the south west lose a few hundred thousand? Or the east Midlands, for that matter? For goodness sakes, why should they want a theatre or a theatre company in York when they've got a perfectly good theatre down the road in Leeds? You can see the wheels turning already. Bowden saved regional theatre from total disaster. Let's not throw away everything we've gained since last year! When Will They Ever Learn? If there was one thing I thought we had learned from the first fine flush of Lottery-funded improvements to subsidised theatres, it's that improved, modernised theatres cost more to run. Increased revenue grants must go hand in hand with large capital expenditure. The number of theatres with sparkling, brand-new Lottery funded new build, which then plunged into crisis over their day-to-day finances, was legion. That was part of the reason why Bowden was necessary. And now Hampstead is in trouble. When will they ever learn? Articles Indices:
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